Traffic signal



Nov. 1, 1938. F. H. STOTTS 2,135,416 TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed June a, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 F. H. STOTTS TRAFFIC SIGNAL Nov. 1, 1938.

Filed June 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J awwe/wbms Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved traflic signal for use upon automobiles and other vehicles, and one object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of compact construction and capable of being mounted at a side of a vehicle without detracting from the appearance of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal wherein signals of a duplicate construction will be mounted at opposite sides of the vehicle and each include a signaling arm pivotally mounted in a housing containing actuating mechanism which will cause the arm to be swung outwardly when a turn is to be made and thus clearly indicate to pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles the direction in which a turn is to be made.

It is another object of the invention to so construct the device that, when the signaling arm is in the retracted position, it will be disposed vertically in the housing and form a closure for the open outer side of the housing through which the arm moves upwardly to an extended operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved electrically actuated means for operating the arm, the means being so constructed that, when the arm is swung downwardly to the retracted position, it will be firmly secured and prevented from accidentally swinging outwardly.

Another object of the invention is to provide actuating means wherein bracket members serve not only as supports for a solenoid but also as means for pivotally mounting the arm.

Another object of the invention is to so construct one of the brackets that it may be firmly mounted in the housing but at the same time easily released for removal when replacements or repairs are necessary.

Another-object of the invention is to provide an arm which may be formed from a strip of sheet metal bent to the desired shape and in addition provide this arm with improved means for carrying a light bulb. i

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a sectional view taken vertically through the improved signal with the signaling arm in the lowered or retracted position.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the signaling arm swung upwardly to an extended position,

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the signaling arm,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation looking at the inner or lower side of the signaling arm,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken transversely through the signaling arm along the line 6-6 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a Wiring diagram.

The signaling device constituting the subjectmatter of this invention is for use upon an automobile or other vehicle and may be of any dimensions desired which will permit the signaling arm to be readily seen when swung outwardly and upwardly to an extended or operative position. While only one signaling device has been shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is to be understood that one of the signaling devices will be mounted at each side of the automobile and the appropriate signaling device energized to swing its indicating arm outwardly and upwardly to the extended or operative position according to which direction it is intended to turn the automobile. The housing I of the signaling device may be formed of sheet metal or any other desired material. This housing is disposed vertically when in use and is secured in the upright position by screws 2 which pass through a bracket 3 fixed to a convenient portion of the automobile 4. It will thus be seen that in order to apply the signaling device to the automobile it is merely necessary to secure brackets at opposite sides thereof and then pass the screws through the brackets with their threaded end portions extending through the inner side wall of the housing and into threaded openings formed in a metal plate 5. Therefore, the screws serve as means for mounting the housing upon the brackets and also as means for securing the plate 5. This plate carries an anchoring bolt 6 which is riveted through the plate and the inner wall of the housing and is formed with a head 1 which is substantially elliptical or semi-oblong in shape when viewed as shown in Figure 3. a a

The actuating element of the signaling device consists of a solenoid 8 which extends vertically in the housing and at its upper and lower ends is secured to brackets 9' and I0.

The lower bracket constitutes a mounting bracket and is formed with a transversely elongated opening H desired material.

turned to extend the head in crossed relation to the opening II with end portions of the head overlapping the bracket above and below the opening. A tongue l2 extends from the upper end of the upper bracket 9 and is curved longitudinally so that it will extend away from the inner wallof the housing. Therefore, when the arms I3 at opposite sides of theupper bracket arerengaged underthe'arms l4 of a plate I5 secured against the upper end of the inner wall of the housing and the bolt 6 is engaged through the opening it and turned to dispose'its head '1 in the securing position, a set screw I6 threaded through the tongue l2 may be turned'in a direction to apply pressure'against the plate I'San'd tilt the solenoid and the two brackets away from I the inner wall of the housing. This will cause 7 the arms l3 to be brought into tight bindingen 'andthe overlapping end portions of the head of the bolt and the two' brackets will be firmly secured. When, however, it is desired to remove the brackets and the solenoid together with other mechanism carried thereby, it is merely necessary to unscrew the set screw a sufficient distance to move its inner end out of binding engagement with the plate and the bolt 6 may then be easily turned to a releasing position and removal may be easily accomplished. a i

The-signaling arm, which is indicated'in general by'the numeral IT, has a. frame formed from a strip'of sheet metal bent intermediate its length to providea head l8 and arms Hand extending rearwardly therefrom to provide a shank for the signaling arm. Grooves are formed along side edge portions of the strip to provide the head and the shank of the signaling arm with seats to receive edges of side walls 2| formed of light 'penetrable material whichis preferably translucent and may be Celluloid or any other The side walls are'preferably colored in order that the interiorof the signaling arms'will be concealed and they may be marked Rightor Left, as shown at22, and also otherwise marked in order to attract attention erably formed of sheet metal and of hollow formation, fits between rearen'd portions of; the

arms 19 and 20 of the casing for the signaling arm where it is "secured by bolts 24: 2,116, 25, and referring particularly to Figureji, it will be seen' that the bolt 25 not only serves to secure the "mounting block between the arms of the casing 7 but also serves as securing meansfor a spring which yieldably 'holds'th'e bearing bracket transversely of. the mounting block at substantially right angles theretor A lug or finger extends from the bracket 21 through alined openings j formed in rear end portions of the mounting 'block and the arm 20 of the casing of the signaling arm to limit swinging movement of the\ of which this bracket maybe swung in a direction to move the arms 3| of the bracket forwardlyt 'A link '32 of a bell crank formation is 7 pivotally mounted between the arms 3| of the bracket name this link which serves as a latch bracket 9 and very effectively prevent the signaling arm from swinging outwardly and upwardly to a raised position about the pin 35, by means of which it is pivotally mounted between the arms 36 of the upper bracket. When the solenoid is energized and its core is pulled downvwardly, the force exerted will tilt thelink 32 to a position moving its nose 34 out of binding engagement with the tongue l2 and swing the bearing bracket 21 downwardly and during such movement the finger 30 upon reaching rear ends of the registering" openings through which it passes will exert pull upon the inner end of the signaling arm and cause the signaling arm to swing upwardly to theraised or extended posi-' tion. When the signaling arm is in the lowered or retracted position, the spring 26 which engages the link-holds the lug in engagement with the tongue in axial alinement with the arms of the bearing bracket and it will be impossible to swing the signaling arm to the raised position until the a carried by the inwardly extending tongue 39 at one end of a plate 40 which fits into an opening 4| formed in the under or inner wall of the head l8 of the signaling arm. The other end portion of this'plate is reduced in width to form-a tongue 42 which passes through the opening and bears against the inner surface of the wall of the casing. A socket 43 to'receive the other end of the of conductive material and when the plate is snapped into place through the opening 4| the resiliency of, the mounting strip-Will cause the in engagement with thestrip 45 of conductive material which serves to ground one end of the bulb to the metal frame ofthe casing. A notch 46 is provided in the plate to permit the plate to be slid' into position for removal. The mounting strip 44' is secured in insulated relation to the casing,:as shown at- 41, and engaged by a wire 43 which extends longitudinally through the .bulb is carried by a resilient mounting strip 44 plate to'be firmly held in place with the socket 38 e signaling arm and has its other end secured to] a terminal bolt 49 carried by the lower bracket lo and insulated therefrom by the strip of insulation 50. This terminal-49 is also engaged by the conductor 5lleading from one end of the coil of the solenoid and by a conductor wire 52 constituting one of the power wires which extends through a'flexible tube 53 having an end secured through the bottom of the housing I. The other power through the medium of the plate 5 and as the 7 upper bracket '9 also'bears aga'insti'the housing a grounded connection will be provided fo-r' the socket 38. It will thus be seen that, when the circuit is completed, the solenoid may be energized to swing the .signalingarm upwardly to'theex-r tended or operative position and the bulb willbe bearing bracket is swung downwardly in oppolighted to illuminate the interior of the signaling arm.

When this improved signaling device is in use, two will be employed, one being mounted at each side of the automobile with its housing extending vertically. A three-wire circuit is made use of and when the switch arm 56 is swung to engage a selected one of the contacts 51 either the right hand signal or the left hand signal will be energized according to which of the contacts '5 is engaged by the switch arm. When the circuit for one of the signals is closed, its solenoid will be energized and the core or plunger 33 thereof drawn downwardly. This will cause the arm 34 of the link 32 to be drawn downwardly out of position to bear against the upper end portion of the tongue !2 and the bracket 21 will also be tilted downwardly and the signaling arm swung upwardly out of the housing to the extended position. Closing of the switch also causes the bulb in the signaling armto be lighted and the interior of the signaling arm will be illuminated. Therefore, the signaling arm may be clearly seen and a pedestrian or the driver of another vehicle will be warned of the direction in which a turn is to be made. After a turn has been made the switch will be again opened and thus break the circuit through the solenoid and the lamp. The weight of the signaling arm will cause it to swing downwardly and into the housing to a retracted position, and since the side arm 34 of the link will assume the position shown in Figure 1 where it will be in alinement with the bracket 21, the signaling arm will be braced against outward movement and confined within the housing. In View of the fact that the spring strip 26 bears against the link when the signaling arm is in the lowered or retracted position, the link and its side arm will be maintained in the desired position and prevented from accidentally turning to a position in which the signaling arm will not be properly secured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a signaling device for vehicles, a housing open along one side and adapted to be mounted upon a portion of a vehicle, a solenoid, upper and lower mounting brackets for the solenoid detachably mounted in the housing, upper and lower plates in said housing, a fastener carried by the lower plate and detachably engaging the lower bracket, a signaling arm pivotally carried by the upper bracket and extending vertically in the housing in a retracted position, a resilient tongue carried by the upper bracket and overlapping the upper plate, a set screw carried by said tongue and engaging the upper plate to exert frictional grip between the upper plate and the upper bracket, a bearing bracket pivoted to the upper end of the signaling arm and extending laterally therefrom, a spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bearing bracket towards the solenoid when the signaling arm is in its vertical position, and a link pivoted at its ends to the bearing bracket and the upper end of the core of the solenoid and having a side extension extending longitudinally of the bearing bracket and adapted to engage the tongue of the upper bracket and prevent movement of the signaling arm out of a Vertical position until the sition to action of its spring.

2. In a vehicle signaling device, a housing open along one side, a signaling arm disposed vertically in the housing when in a retracted position and projecting laterally out of the housing in a horizontal position when in an extended position, upper and lower brackets, an actuating member secured vertically between the brackets, an upper plate in the housing having portions for overlapping the upper end of the upper bracket, a tongue extending from the upper bracket and overlying the upper plate, a set screw carried by said tongue for engaging the upper plate and exerting pressure for creating binding grip between the upper bracket and the overlapping portion of the upper plate, a lower plate in the housing, a securing bolt rotatably carried by said lower plate and having an elongated head adapted to pass through a correspondingly shaped opening in the lower bracket and secure the lower bracket when the bolt is turned to a position disposing this headin overlapped relation to the bracket at opposite sides of the opening therein, and an operative connection between the actuating member and the signaling arm.

3. In a signaling device for vehicles, a housing open along one side, means for supporting said housing in a vertical position, mounting means in the housing including a bracket having horizontally extending bearing arms adjacent the upper end of the housing, actuating means associated with said mounting means and including a plunger shiftable vertically in the housing, a signaling arm of a size adapting it to be disposed vertically in the housing when in a retracted position, said signaling arm having a casing consisting of a strip bent to form opposed walls for the casing, other opposed walls of light penetrable material carried by the first-mentioned walls, a block secured between end portions of the first-mentioned walls of the casing and overlapped by end portions of the light penetrable walls, said block being pivotally connected with the arms of the bracket to pivotally mount the signaling arm between the bearing arms for swinging movement from a vertically disposed retracted position within the housing to an extended position in which it projects laterally from the housing through the open side thereof, a bearing bracket pivoted to said block and extending laterally thereof and provided with arms at its inner end and a lug at its outer end extending through an opening in one of the first-mentioned walls of the casing of the signaling arm, and a link extending between and pivoted to the arms of the bearing bracket and the plunger and at its upper end being formed with a side arm extending longitudinally of the bearing bracket in position to have abutting engagement with a portion of the first-mentioned bracket and prevent swinging movement of the signaling arm to the extended position until the bearing bracket is swung about its pivot by pull exerted when the plunger is shifted downwardly or pressure applied to the outer end of the lug extending through the opening formed in the wall of the casing of the signaling arm.

FRANCIS H. STOTTS. 

